The global maritime transport giant has explained its abandonment of Spain for Morocco. The shipping company Maersk, one of the largest global operators in container traffic, has assured that the port of Algeciras will be “a key central port” in the future Gemini network that will be launched on February 1.
All this after it has been announced that this same Cadiz port will no longer serve as a stopover on the MECL service that operates from India to North America to the west, where it does. The port of Tangier Med in Morocco will be incorporated.
Company sources have explained to Europa Press that the port of Algeciras is “an absolute priority” for APM Terminals and a “hub clave“for the”Future Network“introduced by AP Moller-Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, being visited”for many services“mainline vessels on East-West trade routes, including 20,000 TEU vessels.
Regarding the change in routes between the United States and India that leaves out the port of Algeciras for that of Tangier, the same sources have defended that all this is due to “preparations to switch from its former 2M alliance to the future Gemini cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd“.
In that sense, it is worth pointing out a statement issued on January 9 where the company announced that “to improve” services from India to North America, the MECL service would add a stopover in Mundra (India) and “will stop stopping in Algeciras on the journey west“. This will mean that transit times from India, Pakistan and the Middle East to the US East Coast will “improve by an average of five days.” The ship’s first voyage in the new rotation will be the Maersk Atlanta 509W with ETA at Mundra Feb 24, 2025.
From the company they have explained that changes in the different services and ports of call are “usual” for shipping companies and that they are due to “commercial decisions”, giving as an example that as of February 1, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will begin its introduction phase of the new Gemini network.
Maersk has pointed out about the port of Algeciras that “APM Terminals greatly appreciates the professionalism and experience of its team and its results as a key transshipment hub in its network.
Regarding this “Network of the Future”, Maersk has indicated that it covers the maritime freight transport network on east-west routes with the aim of “reducing its complexity”, “mainly with single operator loops and fewer port calls.” per service, and incorporate terminals with the maximum level of productivity and operational efficiency”.
This network will consist of 29 “dynamic and efficient” main maritime services, and an extensive network of interregional feeder services. Thus, in shipments between Asia and northern Europe, both the ports of Algeciras and Tangier appear as stopovers on this route.
